Visitors to Fota up 21%

FOTA Wildlife Park had a record 362,000 visitors last year, up by 21% on 2006.

During the year, the county’s first cheetah run was opened in the park.

Other highlights in 2007 included the births of two critically endangered bison and two scimitar-horned oryx — an endangered species that may be on the brink of extinction.

The park is looking forward to introducing more such exciting births, in 2008, according to park marketing manager Mark Hegarty.

“Fota Wildlife Park is home to so many wonderful species and it’s great to see people are enjoying the unique experience on offer. We had a very exciting year,” he said.

Located 10km from Cork city, the park is recognised as one of the most successful cheetah breeding centres in Europe, with 181 cheetahs born there since its opening in 1984.

The cheetah run, opened in March 2007, has proven very successful in ensuring the cheetahs remain fit and healthy, and in drawing visitors.

It is an electronic device and strips of meat can be attached overhead on a line that runs the length of the enclosure for the cheetahs to retrieve.

The run was introduced as part of the cheetahs’ enrichment programme.

The 70-acre park has lush grasslands that allow the wildlife, including zebras, giraffes, antelope and ostrich to run free in safe spaces.

The park is committed to conservation and, despite its own charitable status, has contributed more than €200,000 to conservation projects with genuine and critical conservation issues in the past five years.